Dementia Awareness Week

12th May, 2017

Timms solicitors in Derby, Swadlincote, Ashby and Burton will be among the organisations holding information sessions for individuals, organisations and businesses throughout Dementia Awareness Week (May 15 to 20).

Each session highlights the causes, symptoms and challenges facing people living with dementia. They last approximately one hour at various venues across the area.

Darren Perry, Wills and Probate partner at Timms solicitors explained: “Having advised with elderly clients for more than 30 years, I felt I knew what dementia was and how it affected people.

“However, this session really opened by eyes to what life must be like for someone with dementia and I quickly recognised that we as a firm could be doing so much more to better support our clients who have dementia and their families.

“Today, we have six Dementia Champions at Timms and we all volunteer our time to raise awareness about the simple things they can do to make life easier for people living with dementia.

“This could be as simple as having the time and patience to recognise that someone is not being difficult – they just don’t understand what is happening around them. Shops could think about reducing background music to avoid audio confusion.

“And how many of us have a black mat at the entrance to our office, restaurant or shop? Well think again as some people with dementia see this as a black hole that they could fall into.

“We have already worked successfully with fellow businesses and the local council in Swadlincote to pilot the town gaining status as a dementia friendly community and we are now working with the business community in Derby Cathedral Quarter on the same agenda.

For more information about the information sessions available locally this week and future workbased sessions available, please l.clare@timms-law.com